The Conference Board (TCB) Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the United Kingdom edged down by 0.1 per cent in October 2025 to 74.1 (2016=100), marking a second consecutive monthly decline after a similar fall in September. As a result, the UK LEI contracted by 0.8 per cent over the six-month period from April to October 2025.

The UK Leading Economic Index fell 0.1 per cent in October 2025, extending its decline and signalling continued weakness in forward-looking indicators.
Over six months, the LEI contracted 0.8 per cent, though less sharply than earlier in the year.
Meanwhile, the Coincident Economic Index rose marginally, but its six-month growth slowed sharply, indicating softer underlying economic momentum.

While this indicates continued softening in forward-looking economic signals, the pace of decline was notably slower than the 1.5 per cent contraction recorded between October 2024 and April 2025, suggesting some moderation in downside momentum, TCB said in a release.

In contrast, the Conference Board Coincident Economic Index (CEI) for the UK rose by 0.1 per cent in October 2025 to 108.1 (2016=100), reversing a 0.1 per cent decline in September. Despite this monthly improvement, overall growth in current economic activity remained subdued.

The CEI increased by just 0.2 per cent between April and October 2025, well below the 1 per cent expansion seen in the previous six-month period from October 2024 to April 2025.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)

American families have already paid nearly $1,200 each in tariff costs since President Donald Trump took office, according to estimates presented in a new report by the Joint Economic Committee (JEC)-Minority.

Combining Treasury Department data on the amount of tariff revenue collected across the first ten months of Trump’s term (February-November 2025) with independent private sector estimates of the per cent of each tariff dollar that is paid by American consumers, the Committee found that American consumers paid in total nearly $160 billion in tariff costs during the period.

American families have already paid nearly $1,200 each in tariff costs since President Donald Trump took office, according to estimates presented in a new report by the Joint Economic Committee (JEC)-Minority.
If monthly tariff costs remain as high as they were in November over the next 12 months, families will pay an average of $2,100 per year due to tariffs, it noted.

“While President Trump promised that he would lower costs, this report shows that his tariffs have done nothing but drive prices even higher for families,” said Senator Maggie Hassan, ranking member of the Committee.

“At a time when both parties should be working together to lower costs, the President’s tax on American families is simply making things more expensive,” he noted in a release.

This tax on American consumers is already creating significant challenges for families, and studies suggest that families will pay an even greater share of tariff costs in the future, the report found.

If monthly tariff costs remain as high as they were in November over the next 12 months, families will pay an average of $2,100 per year due to tariffs, it added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

Acne Studios has opened its first standalone store in Thailand, opting for the Asian nation’s capital, Bangkok, to make its debut.

Located inside the city’s Siam Paragon shopping mall, nestled in the Siam shopping district, the new Acne Studios Bangkok store was conceived by the Swedish luxury fashion brand’s creative director Jonny Johansson and Swedish architecture studio, Halleroed.

Washed in the Stockholm-based brand’s signature light pink hue, the new store’s facade features pink granite, which extends to the interior flooring and a series of monolithic pillars, with matte plaster walls.

The minimalist space is punctuated by furnishings and fixtures by longtime collaborators, including seating by British furniture designer Max Lamb, alongside geometric stainless steel, including a metal payment desk, and strip lighting by the French artist, Benoit Lalloz.

“Together, this dialogue between materials, furnishings and lighting reaches what Johansson and Halleroed call an ‘unexpected harmony’ – a reflection of Acne Studios’ collections, which are rooted in ideas
of juxtaposition, creativity and play,” said the brand in a press release.

Inside, local shoppers will find Acne Studios Fall/Winter 25 looks from the men’s and women’s collections alongside shoes and accessories, and the brand’s new Camero bag.

To celebrate the opening, a limited-edition Acne Studios Loves Bangkok T-shirt will be available alongside a series of early Trompe L’œil drops.

The new Bangkok store opening comes on the back of Acnes Studios’ opening in Aoyama, Tokyo, strengthening the firm’s presence across the Asia-Pacific region.